“You can be successful and still feel empty. That’s the cue to redefine what success really means.” – Brené Brown

You climbed the ladder. Hit your career goals. Built the house. Raised the kids. Maybe you even checked off a few bucket-list items. But now you’re looking around and asking: Is this it?

You’re not alone. Many high-achievers reach a point where traditional success—measured in titles, wealth, accomplishments—no longer satisfies. It’s not a crisis of failure. It’s a signal. A signal that you’ve outgrown your current definition of success and are being called to a deeper version of fulfillment.

According to aHarvard Business Review study, nearly 50% of successful professionals report feeling a persistent lack of meaning in their work and lives, even while being objectively “successful.” That disconnect can lead to burnout, disillusionment, or simply a sense that something’s missing.

But here’s the empowering truth: you get to redefine success at every stage of life. And you should—especially if you’re planning for a meaningful 100-year life.

Redefining Fulfillment in a Way That Fits You

Success is external. Fulfillment is internal. Success can be about what you do. Fulfillment is about why you do it, who you become in the process, and how it aligns with your values and sense of purpose.

As Viktor Frankl, author of Man’s Search for Meaning, wrote, “Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.”

So if you’ve reached success but not fulfillment, consider this an invitation to evolve. Not to throw away what you’ve built—but to realign it with what matters most now.

Action Steps to Move From Success to Fulfillment

1. Clarify What Fulfillment Looks Like for You
 Start by asking deeper questions:

• What gives me energy and meaning?
• When do I feel most alive or at peace?
• What do I want to contribute moving forward?

Use journaling tools likeDay One or guided reflection prompts fromGreater Good Science Center to start mapping your internal compass.

2. Revisit Your Definition of Success
 What once drove you might not drive you anymore—and that’s okay. Make space to evolve your definition of success. It might now include freedom of time, deeper relationships, making a difference, or simply living with more joy and balance.

Try sketching your new version of success using a simple visual tool like theIkigai diagram—which combines what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.

3. Shift from Achievement to Alignment
 Rather than chasing goals for external validation, focus on how well your daily life aligns with your values. This subtle but powerful mindset shift changes your priorities—and how you measure progress.

Use a values tracker onNotion or a simple calendar check-in to ask, “Did I live in alignment with my values today?” even just for five minutes.

4. Explore Purpose-Driven Pursuits
 Fulfillment often comes from making an impact beyond yourself. That might mean mentoring others, volunteering, or starting a project rooted in your passions.

Check out platforms likeCatchafire to find skill-based volunteer opportunities, orEncore for purpose-driven work later in life. You don’t need to quit your job—you can start small and build meaning into your week.

5. Create Space for Joy and Curiosity
 Sometimes the pressure to feel fulfilled can block the actual experience of it. Allow yourself to explore, play, and rest without needing it to be “productive.” Creativity, connection, and novelty are powerful sources of joy.

Apps likeMeetup can connect you to local interest groups. Or explore personal growth platforms likeMasterClass to spark new inspiration.

You’re Not Stuck—You’re Evolving

Feeling a lack of fulfillment doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means you’re ready. Ready for the next evolution of your identity, purpose, and priorities. This isn’t about throwing away the past—it’s about building on it with intention.

Give yourself permission to explore, to be a beginner again, to value feeling alive over just being impressive. You already know how to be successful. Now it’s time to learn how to be deeply satisfied.

As author Anne Lamott said, “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”

What’s One Way You’ll Redefine Success This Year?

Fulfillment isn’t a destination. It’s a practice. A daily choice to live with alignment, connection, and purpose. If success no longer satisfies you, don’t fear the shift—embrace it. You have more wisdom, freedom, and potential than ever to design a life that truly lights you up.

What does fulfillment mean to you—and how will you move toward it today?

Join the conversation and share your next step in theforum.